Mucking machine for use in shaft sinking and in caisson sinking



. Sept. 19, 1944. FJTOFFLEMIRE MUCKING MACHINE FOR USE IN SHAFT SINKING AND IN CAIS SON SINKING 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 28, 1941 j nap 4 19.39 (z INVENTOR.

p 1944. F. .TOFFLEMIRE 2,358,543

MUCKING MACHINE FOR USE IN SHAFT SINKING AND IN CAiSSON SINKING F Filed Jam. 28, 1941 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 L E I I/ Patented Sept. 19, 1944 MUCKING MACHINE FOB. USE-1N SHAFT" SINKING AND IN CAISSON SINKING Francis Tofliemire, Confluence, Pa. Application January 28, 1941, serial N0.- 376,278

4 Claims. (CL 214-138) The invention utilizes a particulartype of track, a movable carriage, supporting a distinctively shaped power plant, three booms and a shackle, which is connected to the hoisting boom, and to which is attached a shovel in a certain manner, governed by the balance of the shovel. with certain points of stoppage determined by the particular type of shovel, and controlled by certain cables, hereinafter specified.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a mobile means of mechanical excavation in a shaft or caisson V, faster and cheaper than the present method of hand excavating.

In the drawings: V

Figure 1 is a side elevation of. the machine as a whole mounted on the caisson wall.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the supporting trackframe. 7

Figure 4 is a front elevation of Figure 3.

Figur'e'5 is a plan view of the carriage and power plant sections in assembled relation.

Figure 6 is a side .view of the track frame mounted on the caisson wall.

Figure '7 is a plan view, to a-small scale, of the machine on its wall mounting.

Figure 8 is a detail in plan view of the mech-v anism for shifting the machine across the caisson area along the rail frame.

The mobility is provided for by a track illustrated in the accompanying drawings, Figs. 1, 3, and 4, which consists of two parallel metal channels of material suitably strong to carry the load, the upper channeled rail I, having a geared inner face I, and a lower rail 2, similar to I, ex cept for the geared face, and connected together with metal ties 3, welded or otherwise secured to the channeled rails (see Figs. 1, 3 and 4) and beveled in such a manner that a guiding effect is secured for the mounting of carriage l, illus-' trated in Figs. 1 and 3.

The track may be made straight for square or rectangular shafts, circular or'elliptical, depending upon shape of the excavation, and may be permanently mounted on the inner side of a caisson shield or shoe or hung against the wall thereof by a. sling S anchored to a support P, as shown in Fig.- 6 of the drawings, and levelled relative. to the wall of the caisson by wedges M or the like.

The above mentioned carria e 4' (Figs. 1 and consists of two half hinge sGctions and supports a'power plantand the shovel arrangement. .One section mounted in the upper rail I, and one mounted in the lower rail 2, rigidly connected together with a bolt and nut 5 (see Fig. 1), upon which is mounted a movable gear 8 for engaging the teeth on the inner side of the upper rail I (see Figs. 1, 3 and 4) and connected by a suitable reversible, gear mechanism of conventional con- 5 struction to the power plant for propelling along the track. j

Further rigidity and stability are secured by j The connecting arrangement to the power 2o plant and shovel assembly utilizes the body half hinge l0, which consists of two sections as shown in Fig. 1, and shaped as shown in Fig. 5, suitably attached to the back of the frame of the power plant, the back corners of which are cut away as shown in Fig. 5, to permit the widest swinging radius. Pin II, passing thru upper half body hinge III, the upper carriage hinge 4, and lower body half hinge I0, and lower carriage half hinge 4 secures the power plant to the carriage Mounted in the frame of the power plant shown in Figs. 1 and .2 is an electric motor l2 connected to'a conventional power transmission mechanism I2 which is provided with a shaft I2 connected to upperand lower drive shafts II and I! by suitable power transmitting means herein shown in the form of sprocket chains A trained over sprockets B. Y Also connected to said transforthe hoisting boom which consists of two similar parallel members 23, joined at the-outer endby a spacer bolt 24 to which is fastened the hoists cable 41 attached to the hoisting drum I1 4 frame 2|, shown in Figs. 1, and-2, providesa mounting by means of pins or bolts and nuts 22,

provided with a ratchet and stop for holding in position. The same pins or bolt and nut 22, secure the cable directional boom which consists of two similar parallel members 25, joined at the outer end by a spacer bolt and nut 23 which carries a free roller 21 (see Figs. 1, and 2) and supported from the top front corners of the power plant by suspension chains 28 in the manner shown in Figs. 1, and 2.

To the outer end of the hoisting boom 23, attached to the spacer bolt 24 is a shackle, which consists of two distinctively shaped parallel members 29, whichbears near its center a spacer'bolt and nut 30, carrying a free roller 3|, and at its lower end by means of pins or bolts 32 is joined to the shovel 33 (see Figs. 1, and 2).

A proper size conventional shovel 33, of the dragline type fitted with a door in the back, not shown, is provided with a stop 34 (note Figs. 1, and 2) which may be a bar, welded or otherwise secured and long enough to engage both shackle members 29, in Figs. 1, and 2.

To the top front center of shovel 33, a welded link 35, provides attachment for tilting cable 45 as shown in Fig. 1. To the front of the shovel 33 by means of a regular bolt and clevis 39 is attached a cable or chain yoke 31 as shown in F1 1.

%o the rear of the power plant and at either side of hinge H) as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, are guides 38 suitably attached to the frame; through which pass the members of the vertically adjustable loading boom which consists of two similar bars 39, angled at the lower end, as shown in Fig. 1.

Joining the two members 39 at the bottom is a spacer bolt and nut 40, bearing a free roller 4| (see Figs. 1 and 2), and at the bend, the two members 39, are further joined by a spacer bolt, 42, hearing a free roller, 43 (see Figs. 1 and 2).

'A hoisting cable 44,attached to the hoist boom spacer bolt 24, passes over roller 21, and is attached to hoisting drum 11 (as shown in Figs. 1, and 2) A tilting cable 45, attached to link 35, at the top front center of the shovel 33 passes back over the top of the shovel (see Figs. 1) under and over shackle roller 3| (see Figs. 1 and 2) and directly to upper right drum l6, as shown in Fig. 2'.

The loading cable 46 attached to the center of cable yoke 31, passes under and over roller 4|,

and under roller 43, at the bottom of the vertically adjustable loading boom 39 and from thence upward to center drum I9, mounted on the bottom drive shaft 15 (see Figs. 1 and 2).

Cable 41 attached to drum 20 mounted upon shaft l5 passes forward and to the left as shown in Fig. 2, over vertical roller guides R and is attached by a hook H to one of the ties which is fastened to lower rail 2 of the track, at such a point as to provide the maximum swinging radius. Cable 48, attached to drum I3, mounted upon shaft 15 passes forward and to the right, as shown in Fig. 2, over vertical roller guides R and is attached by a hook H to a tie at the lower' rail 2, of the track, at such a point as to provide the maximum swingingradius.

The operator of the machine is provided with a seat on the top of the machine and the usual lever and footcontrols (see Fig. 1) whichare placed ontop likewise, in convenient positions, and connected by suitable connections to the various drums. ing boom 39, not being frequently used, is pro- The vertically adjustable load-,

vided with one of the regular hand cable winches, provided with a ratchet, which will permit raising or lowering to any desired point.

To begin operation, the track being properly secured at such a height above the muck pile that the power plant, when mounted thereon, is enabledto load the shovel; elevate same, and discharge contents into the shaft bucket (not shown) which is within the swinging radius of the shovel. By shifting the carriage 4, along the track, by operating the driving gear 6 (see Figs. 1 and '5) the entire shaft bottom may be cleaned.

Then the unit is dismounted from the track,

, by first, disengaging the driving gear 6 from the geared top rail I; second, the vertically adjustable loading boom' 39 is raised up to its limit against the body and secured; third, the hoisting boom 23, carrying the shackle 29 and shove] 33, and the cable directional boom 25 is raised to its limit and secured; fourth, the shaft hoisting cable is attached to the power plant and the safety lugs 8 removed, then the entire unit is dismounted from the track by the shaft hoisting cable and then lowered to the bottom of the shaft on the muck pile, then the shaft hoisting cable is removed from the shaft mucking machine and by means of regular cable slings the shaft hoisting cable slightly raises and holds the track until it is freed, then lowers the track and holds it until the track is secured at the proper place. The slings are then removed from the track and then removed from the shaft hoisting cable and the shaft hoisting cable is attached to the shaft mucker, which is raised and remounted upon the track, the driving gear Sis engaged, safety lugs 3 are replaced, hoisting boom 23, along with vertically adjustable loading boom 25, is released and the mucking machine is again ready to function.

What I claim as new and desire to secure Letters Patent for is a device for removing muck from a shaft or caisson by means of a caisson mucking machine:

1. In a mucking machine of the character set forth the combination of, a channel shaped track suspended against the wall of a shaft for vertical adjustment therein, a rack formed on the track, a carriage slidably carried by the track, a power plant including a support swingably secured to said carriage on a vertical axis and extending inwardly from the wall of the shaft, a hoistin boom, a horizontally disposed pivotal bolt connecting the upper endof the hoisting boom to the outer lower end of the power plant support,

a free roller carried by the hoisting boom, a shovel pivotally connected to the lower end of the hoisting boom, a cable directional boom secured to the aforesaid pivotal bolt of the hoisting boom and extending outwardly from the power plant support and above the hoisting boom, means connecting the cable directional boom to the power plant support at a point above the aforesaid pivotal bolt, a. free roller carried by the cable directional boom, a loading boom adjustably secured to the inner side of the power plant support, free rollers carried by the loading boom adjacent its lower end, a tilting cable trained over the roller of the hoisting boom and having its outer end connected to the shovel, a hoisting cable trained over the roller of the cable directional boom and having its outer end connected to the hoisting boom, a loading cable trained over the rollers of the loading boom and having its outer end connected to the forward end of the shovel, a cable winding drum for each of the aforesaid cables mounted on the power plant support, other cable winding drums mounted on the power plant support, cables extending from the last mentioned drums in opposite directions from the outer side of the power plant support and having their ends secured to stationary points within the shaft, a motor secured on the power plant support, power transmitting means connecting the motor to the aforesaid drums and carriage supporting track, and manually operated means connecting and disconnecting the motor to the power transmitting means.

2. In a mucking machine ofthe character set forth the combination of, a caisson, a track suspended therein against the inner wall thereof, a power plant including asupport therefor extending inwardly from the wall of the caisson, a carriage slidably mounted on the track and supporting the power plant thereon for swinging movement on a vertical axis, a shovel supporting boom pivoted to the power plant support, a shovel carried by the free end of the shovel boom, cable winding drums mounted on the power plant support, cables wound around the drums and having their outer ends connected to certain different portions of the shovel, power transmitting means connected to the cable drums, means connecting and disconnecting the power transmitting means to the drums, means connecting the power transmitting means to the track to slide the carriage thereon, and means connected to the power transmitting means to swing the power plant support and elements carried thereby in opposite directions on its vertical axis.

3. The combination with a caisson having unobstructed walls, a track swingably disposed adia- .cent the wall of the caisson, means hanging the track from the caisson, means locking the-track against movement relative to the wall of the caisson, a carriage slidably supported on the track, a power plant carried by the carriage, a shovel pivotally supported by the power plant at a point adjacent its lower irmer side, and means carried by the power plant and connected to the shovel for manipulating it within the caisson.

4. In a mucking machine of the character set forth the combination of, a' caisson, a track suspended therein against the wall thereof, a power plant including a support therefor extending inwardly from the wall of the caisson, a carriage slidably mounted on the track and supporting the power plant thereon for swinging movement on a vertical axis, a. shovel supporting boom including outer members operable on a horizontal axis pivoted at its inner end to the power plant, a shovel carried by the free end of the outer member of the shovel boom, cable winding drums mounted on the power plant support, cables wound around the drums and having their outer ends connected to certain different portions of the shovel, power transmitting means con-' nected to the cable drums, means connecting and disconnecting e power transmitting means to the drums, means connecting the power transmitting means 'to the track to slide the carriage thereon, and means connected to the power transmitting means to swing the power plant support and elements carried thereby in opposite directions on its vertical axis.

.FRANCIS TOFFLEMIRE. 

